Tuesday, 15 May 2012

Today was very different at lunchtime. Dad had already told me beforehand that some people from the Council were coming to lunch with a reporter from our local paper. There was also a new system for ordering food which I'll explain when I understand it more. I didn't see the visitors having lunch but I saw them hovering about and watching us getting served.

For the first time ever I have seen at lunch cherry tomatoes, radishes, carrot and cucumber shreddings. I didn't see any watercress but I may have missed it. I chose macaroni cheese, mashed potato, cucumber and peppers. The macaroni cheese is always good but I could always eat more. I was asked today for the first time, 'Is that enough for you?'. For my dessert I had red jelly which tasted of strawberries. I liked most of the changes and I hope it will be the same tomorrow.

Hmm. Strangely high in carbohydrate but you have to give your school credit for trying, things are starting to look a little better. You could always let them know it's really easy to make jelly from scratch just using fruit juice and gelatine so you don't have all the fake food colourings but that's just my preference!

I'm sure you're learning this very quickly but sometimes to make things better, asking for change doesn't work but making your views public does. It's a shame they needed this to take action but good on you!

Well, I will not say that the portions pictured look generous, but I will say they're an improvement.

But still - macaroni cheese AND mashed potato at the same time? I would like to see a chicken leg or thigh in there, or perhaps a bit of fish or some mince. What I see is a lot of carbohydrate and not so very much protein, unless you count the gelatine in the jelly.

Yes Martha, watercress, such a weird thing for the lady from the council to have said. I suspect she mentioned it because it's in season. Why don't you ask the cooks to mix it up in a raita and serve it with a curry, that would be both nutritious and refreshing.

Only in Britain would someone think it was appropriate to serve pasta with a side of potatoes... And I think it's very odd that your dessert is almost the size of the main meal.

I hope your school sorts out their school lunches - I grew up in Sweden where the lunches are lots better (and mandatory for all) and served on normal (plastic) plates. Your compartment plate does little to tickle my appetite.

It seems that there has been a very slight improvment in your lunch if you look at the quantity but not in the nutrional value. There is no protein in this meal at all. Even if you where a veggie there should be some pulse's in the meal or beans. As for making the Jelly from scrtch, people have to understand that there will be a very low level of skill in the kitchen to do this, plus using geletine will mean veggies wont be able to have it. So still room for vast improvement but at least they are taking note.http://todayschooldinner.blogspot.co.uk/

Regardless of whether plain gelatin is mixed with real fruit juice, or the premixed boxed stuff is used, there is still gelatin in the final product - what you said about "veggies" being unable to have the jelly (if gelatin was used) is technically incorrect.

Vegetarians generally can still have gelatin products as part of their diet, unless they are part of a more specific category of vegetarians known as "vegans." Vegans are basically like other vegetarians, except they exclude anything that is animal based from their diets - gelatin would be a good example, as it is derived from animals.

Still lots of carbs but then again,you're a grade schooler and I'm 34. I don't need too much carbs. Looks more substantial than your first posts. I can see my toddlers eating this stuff without me cringing.

Hi! I´m from Spain, Basque country and I´m twelve year old. I think lots of people don´t have anytthing to eat or only some insects and you complain because of your food? You only think about you! You have an ice-cream, a lasagna... I can´t understand you, my school food is worse.Lots of love,xxxxxxxxxxx

Hi! I´m from Spain, Basque country and I´m twelve year old. I think lots of people don´t have anytthing to eat or only some insects and you complain because of your food? You only think about you! You have an ice-cream, a lasagna... I can´t understand you, my school food is worse.Lots of love,xxxxxxxxxxx

Hi! I´m from Spain, Basque country and I´m twelve year old. I think lots of people don´t have anytthing to eat or only some insects and you complain because of your food? You only think about you! You have an ice-cream, a lasagna... I can´t understand you, my school food is worse.Lots of love,

Hi! I´m from Spain, Basque country and I´m twelve year old. I think lots of people don´t have anytthing to eat or only some insects and you complain because of your food? You only think about you! You have an ice-cream, a lasagna... I can´t understand you, my school food is worse.Lots of love,

Hi! I´m from Spain, Basque country and I´m twelve year old. I think lots of people don´t have anytthing to eat or only some insects and you complain because of your food? You only think about you! You have an ice-cream, a lasagna... I can´t understand you, my school food is worse.Lots of love,

Hi! I´m from Spain, Basque country and I´m twelve year old. I think lots of people don´t have anytthing to eat or only some insects and you complain because of your food? You only think about you! You have an ice-cream, a lasagna... I can´t understand you, my school food is worse.Lots of love,

You are an amazing little lady, very well done.I heard of your blog in our german news paper "Bild" and was very curious to see on my own.Do more with your Blog, it´s the right way to start changes. :)

Brilliant! Keep posting, and keep your chin up. It's kids like you who will change the world, one lunch at a time. For me personally, I hope the first thing to change is the number of hairs per lunch -- 1 is too many!

Keep On!!! I'm Esti, from Spain. I saw an article in the newspaper last week talking about your blog and later in the evening news they also talked about it. I can only say that I hope your breakfast and diner are better!!! I can't understand why schools give that "food" at lunch. I saw you liked that staw.... if you want to try to make it with your parent's help.... here you have a step-by-step recipe from my blog. It is in spanish.... but with the pictures you migh understand it, and if you need help, just ask.http://elblogdecantinerita.blogspot.com.es/2011/02/carne-guisada.html

Potato with Mac Cheese is such an obvious doubling of carbs - the issue seems to be a problem with food culture, with no understanding or respect for flavours or understanding about foods that go together. Compare it with that lovely looking Spanish stew, full of great-looking meat, olives and veg and crucially it looks appetising. Sophie Pither - sophiempither@aol.com

Hi, I'm from Spain, from the province of Vizkaia and mi school is Artaza Romo, like the school of Ander, the person who coment a litlle bit up. I think that is a little food, but like this, on this school there is going to be less obess, and this is good! And you ara not going to starving yourself, please... think on the good possibilities... you are not going to need to do "bikini" diet (is like that? I don't know, perhaps we only use this word in Spain... we have so many beaches!!!) Well this is my council: BE OPTIMISTIC AND ENJOY WHAT YOU HAVE FOR NOW:)

I'd be interested to know if these are cooked on site. At my school, the meals are cooked off site, and the caterers bring them in the morning and just cook the veg in microwaves; everything else is kept warm in trays. They look pretty similar to the ones you are given, i.e. not very appetising! But it is the only way the school can provide hot meals as there is no kitchen.

We have enjoyed your blog and watched your counter turn 418,000. Well done! My daughter is going to ask if she can take a photo of her school dinnner for you. She has been poorly and needs feeding up, so her school dinners had better be good!

Hi I´am Juan again, I think my old message was very short and stupid, I´m sorry. Your blog is very interesting, we can speak about the bad alimentation or the good alimentation. In my school there are bad food some days but other days are good. Good luck with your work. Bye

Hi I am from basque country in Spain, at my school we have to send you a comment for homework.your blog is fantastic!! I want to be your food in my school, my schools food is worse. It looks pretty. In your school the deserts are very good, in mines we have yogurt or fruit, nothing else. I really love the things you write in your blog, it is interesting to read it and to now how is the food in other places.Bye

Hi I am from basque country in Spain, at my school we have to send you a comment for homework.your blog is fantastic!! I want to be your food in my school, my schools food is worse. It looks pretty. In your school the deserts are very good, in mines we have yogurt or fruit, nothing else. I really love the things you write in your blog, it is interesting to read it and to now how is the food in other places.Bye

hi! My name is Martina, i'm an Italian girl of 25 years. I write because I have also eaten as a little girl in the canteen of the various schools I attended. I agree with the fact that the canteen food is, and always has been, very bad! my grandchildren still eat badly at school. But I believe that some foods that I saw in the pictures are wrong. like Mexican food, fruit jellies ... the sprite to drink ...

Hi VEG, wanted to listen to that interview you did in Oban for BBC Radio but guess what? "Error (509)This account's public links are generating too much traffic and have been temporarily disabled!"As I was scrolling through your posts, the hit counter just kept ticking over and over, it must be at nearly 4,250,000 by now! Amazing.You're truly a star and I hope your blog has a lot of impact on school meals all over the world. Where I grew up, we went home for lunch and my Mum is/was a fabulous cook so we always ate good and varied meals. We also had cookery classes at school and were taught about how to compose a well-balanced meal and how to prepare a three-course meal from scratch. I hope that all schools will soon be fitted with proper kitchens where kids can learn how to cook. It doesn't have to be complicated to taste really great.Good luck to you, keep up your fabulous blog.MargaretPS: I heard about your blog from a teacher friend of mine who cannot comment...

I wanted to tell you too that I couldn't listen to the interview because of too much traffic! I've only just come across your blog this morning but am really enjoying reading it. You're doing so much good - the amount of money you've raised to help people in Malawi is amazing! Love to you and your family. X